Gardaí need to take back Dublin city centre from 'gangs of feral youths', one business owner has said.
More than 180 city centre business owners met with officers in the Gaiety Theatre earlier over safety concerns.
There have been a number of high-profile, violent attacks in the capital in recent weeks.
Senior Gardaí told the business owners that there will be a significant increase in Garda visibility in the city centre.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis said they want people to feel safe in Dublin.
"We recognise that high visibility is what will make people feel safe in this city," she said.
"There was huge acknowledgment of the wonderful city that we have.
"We will certainly play our part, in the Garda Síochána, in making sure that people can feel safe in our city."
'Embarrassing for the city'
Noel Anderson, who owns the Lemon and Duke bar in Dublin city, attended this morning's meeting.
He said he made it clear to them that they need to gain back control of the city centre.
"It's embarrassing for the city," he said.
"We need to get this solved once and for all and then build the city back up again, and build the trust that city is safe.
"I asked the Assistant Commissioner would she be the person that would finally take the city back from these gangs of feral youths that are coming around?"
Mr Anderson said he was disappointed that there was no political representation.
"The big glaring thing that was obviously missing for me there [was] there was no political representative," he said.
"You've all the people that make the decisions and put legislation in place.
"The Guards spoke about the revolving door system, where they're bringing people in front of the courts and they're just being let out.
"Unless there's real political will to address this, we're going nowhere fast," he added.
